Webster defines counterfeit as, - made in imitation of something else with intent to deceive. Mint marks were put on gold and silver coins to prevent people from scraping the edges and spending the coins. They would then end up with a pile of silver or gold scrapings. The U.S Mint has since removed silver from the coins ie Dime, quarter etc. but the mint marks are still present. Why, if not to decieve? There are no mint marks on the penny or the nickle as they are not needed. They are also not needed on the new non silver coins. This has bothered me for some time as I believe that our coins are now LEGAL counterfiets. What's your opinion? I'd like to know. Lou
Lou, I think you have your facts mixed up. Or maybe it's your terminology that is mixed up. The purpose of mintmarks is to identify where the coin was minted. Mintmarks cannot prevent someone from shaving the edge of a coin (although the mintmarks on the Presidential dollars are currently located on the edge). I think you meant to say: "Edge lettering and reeded edges were put on gold and silver coins to prevent people from scraping the edges and spending the coins. They would then end up with a pile of silver or gold scrapings." Sorry but that is entirely wrong. Mintmarks ARE present on both the Cent and the Nickel (although the Cent does not have a 'P' mintmark for Cents produced in Philly). The original reason for having reeded edges on coins made of precious metal was to prevent edge shaving and an argument could be made to end this practice because modern coins are made of base metals. But reeded edges do still serve a purpose -the reeded edges make it easy to distinguish one coin from another without looking at it. The reeded edges make it easy to distinguish a dime from a cent and a quarter from a nickel. This is critical for a blind person and very helpful for the rest of us because we can identify a coin without taking it out of our pocket. I hope this helps.
I am sorry, but even if your assumptions were correct about the mint marks ("it keeps people from....spending them"??), I still cannot follow you logic as to why modern coins would therefore be counterfeit.
That's why UK pound coins still periodically bear the edge legend DECVS ET TVTAMEN (An Ornament and a Safeguard).
I don't see your point. If you are accusing the government that coins nowadays are struck in base metals and are worthless, well that's life. Why not blame plastic and paper? Those are much cheaper.
I dont know much about the scraping off the reeded edges so one could spend the coin. Why couldnt soneone spend the coin with the reeded edge? Oh! Is it so they kept the scrapings and sold them after an accumulation? If thats the answer, then never mind. Guess I'm smarter than I thought. Or dumber than I actually am.
